SPRING HILL, Fla. — After years of delays, the Bayport Pier in Hernando County has finally reopened.
Thursday was the grand reopening of the Bayport Pier that was destroyed by a five-foot storm surge during Hurricane Hermine in 2016.
Rebuilding the 50-year-old pier was a bigger challenge than anyone expected.
The project estimated at $330,000, ended up costing more than $900,000.
And construction was further delayed for historical significance when it was found that a Civil War shipwreck from 1863, was under the water’s surface next to the pier.
Now one of the county's few public access spots to the Gulf is finally in use again.
"We really hope that people enjoy it in the future, and we hope that we don’t have to repeat this again," said Wayne Dukes, Hernando County Commissioner.
The county says up to 75 percent of the total cost of the project is eligible for reimbursement by FEMA.
